21.03.

1960: Ayrton Senna – A Devout Brazilian Catholic of Italian Origin

Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons / Ayrton Senna

Story Highlights

Historical event

21 March 1960

Senna was a devout Catholic and allegedly often found solace in reading the Bible. He secretly donated a large part of his 400-million dollar fortune to poor Brazilian children, which was only discovered after his tragic death in Formula 1.

One of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time was born in Brazil on this day in 1916. His full name was Aryton Senna da Silva.

According to Brazilian custom, people have two surnames – their mother’s and their father’s. Senna was Aryton’s mother’s surname, and da Silva was the surname of his father.

He normally used only his mother’s surname because da Silva is a very common name in Brazil. His mother was of Italian origin.

Aryton’s father was a wealthy landowner and industrialist. He built his son a go-kart using a lawnmower engine. Aryton started karting when he was only 13 years old.

At the age of 24, he started driving in Formula 1. He won three world championships.

To this day he still holds a record in the number of wins on the Monaco Grand Prix – six. Senna was a devout Catholic and allegedly often found solace in reading the Bible.

He secretly donated a large part of his 400-million dollar fortune to poor Brazilian children, which was only discovered after his tragic death in Formula 1.

He died in an accident on 1 May 1994, at the notorious Tamburello corner at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.